Update on Phased Transfer of Services from GF Jooste Hospital to Mitchells Plain Hospital | Western Cape Government

News

News

Update on Phased Transfer of Services from GF Jooste Hospital to Mitchells Plain Hospital

8 October 2013

The phased closure of GF Jooste Hospital and the commissioning of Mitchell’s Plain Hospital is entering a new phase in two weeks’ time when Mitchell’s Plain Hospital opens for its first outpatients on Tuesday, 29 October.

Two weeks ago GF Jooste Hospital’s surgical admissions and orthopaedic theatre closed and relocated to Mitchell’s Plain Hospital.

The outpatient unit at GF Jooste Hospital has also closed and at present staff are preparing the outpatient unit at Mitchell’s Plain Hospital.

For the interim period outpatients need to visit Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Groote Schuur Hospital, Hanover Park CHC and Gugulethu CHC.

The only units in operation at GF Jooste Hospital at the moment are the emergency centre, the Thutuzela rape assist centre and two medical overnight wards. These will transfer to the emergency centre currently under construction at the back of the Heideveld Community Development Centre. If construction and fitting goes according to plan, the Heideveld emergency centre will be complete in April next year. Then only will GF Jooste Hospital finally close. This information has been communicated to patients at their last appointments, through pamphlets and community newspapers and radio.

Western Cape Minister of Health, Theuns Botha, says: "We realise that the current arrangements are disruptive for our patients. Our staff is managing the process to make the transfer process as smooth as possible. Additional staff have been placed at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Groote Schuur Hospital, Hanover Park CHC and Gugulethu CHC."

Chairperson of the GF Jooste Hospital Facility Board, Mercia Isaacs, says: “The pace at which the staff at Mitchells Plain Hospital is working is unbelievable and the board of GF Jooste Hospital continues to support them”.

The on-site work at the new GF Jooste Hospital will most probably begin during 2015/2016 and complete in 2018/2019. At present the department is awaiting a report and recommendations from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) with regard to the architectural infrastructure of the present building. The cost is estimated between R500 and R600 million.

GF Jooste Hospital treats approximately 27 000 patients per year and approximately 23 000 outpatients per year.

On completion, the new GF Jooste Hospital will have a 30-bed unit for behaviourally disturbed patients; a paediatric service and obstetric service that are not present in the current GF Jooste Hospital.

Media Enquiries: 

Hélène Rossouw
Spokesperson for Theuns Botha, Western Cape Minister of Health
Tel: 021 483 4426
E-mail: helene.rossouw@westerncape.gov.za